“Healers cleanse the tanks the boss is doing its final push!”
“Melee dealers get a handle on the minions we are getting swarmed back here!”
ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!!
A massive form reaching hundreds of feet into the sky. It was a creature of pure elemental fury, born from pure fire, and ran on the ancient magic that coursed through its molten veins.
Its body was a writhing mass of flames and molten debris, twisting and turning in a violent dance of destruction. The intense heat radiating from its body was enough to melt steel and scorch the earth beneath its feet, leaving nothing but blackened ash in its wake.
As it moved, its fiery tendrils lashed out, striking anyone nearby with explosive force. The very air around it shimmered and warped from the sheer intensity of its flames, creating an otherworldly aura that made it seem as if the entire world was on fire.
Despite its fearsome appearance, there was a strange beauty to the elemental's movements. It moved with fluid grace, each motion a carefully orchestrated display of power and control. It was as if the very flames that composed its body were alive and sentient, moving with a life of their own.
To face such a creature was to face the very essence of destruction itself, a being of raw power and elemental force that could incinerate entire cities or even countries with ease. It was like fighting the sun.
Its minions swarmed the players. They were no larger than a human, but they still possessed an aura of fiery power. Each one is formed from flames that twist and coil into a vaguely humanoid shape, with tongues of fire forming their arms and legs. As they moved, sparks flew off of their bodies, leaving trails of heat and light behind them as they rushed towards every player in reach.
To an untrained eye, it looked like chaos engulfed the battlefield as tens of thousands of people were fighting in their own way or performing their own roles. A light washed over the people at the frontlines and flames dissipated from their bodies. Lightning crashed onto the being and giant spears of ice the size of school buses were launched at the flaming mass.
Alicia was fulfilling her role perfectly as she gave orders to her subordinates while launching devastating attacks made of pure light and healing those who overextended. Last time they fought this high elemental they were caught off guard by the creature's final stand and were defeated quickly thereafter. This time her guild had a plan and would defeat this creature once and for all.
Alicia floated in the air and was staring at the monster as its roar deafened those nearby. Last time their tank players had their bones shattered and muscles liquified by this roar as they stood too close to the creature. Suddenly everything turned dark, or at least the blinding light from the creature was seemingly no longer present.
The raging flames and molten debris condensed and compressed, forming a humanoid shape. The flames of the minions seemed to be sucked into its body during this process adding more flames to the small form.
The creature that emerged was still wreathed in flames, but its shape was now more defined, resembling that of a human male standing at about ten feet tall. Its body was still composed of flickering flames and smoldering embers, but now they were tightly packed, forming defined limbs and a torso. The creature's fiery countenance twisted and contorted, giving the impression of a malicious grin.
Its eyes were two glowing orbs of molten lava, constantly shifting and changing, as if they were alive. Its hair, if it could be called that, was a blazing inferno that seemed to dance and writhe on top of its head. The creature's movements were fluid and graceful, and its every gesture seemed to leave a trail of searing heat in the air.
This smaller form of the Fire High Elemental was no less terrifying than its larger counterpart. In fact, its new humanoid shape made it even more menacing, for it seemed to have gained a greater sense of intelligence and purpose. It now moved with a calculated purpose, its fiery eyes fixed on its opponents as it prepared to unleash its deadly power.
Alicia’s heart raced with fear but she quickly calmed down as the tanks surrounded the creature.
The rock beneath its feet melted and boiled before evaporating. The creature flexed its body and each movement warped the air around it like a mirage.
Alicia and the other commanders around her were about to give the signal to attack but before they could the creature’s head whipped around and stared at the commanders. Its eyes locked onto Alicia and it raised its fiery hand and pointed at her.
Alicia started to panic, it hadn’t done this last time and instead just attacked the closest players nearby.
“You.”
The creature launched itself forward with blinding speed. The tanks moved to intercept, but it was too fast. In a flash, it was in front of Alicia, and the force of its sudden stop was enough to send a gust of wind blowing past her. Everyone around her couldn’t move; it was like a primal fear that couldn’t be shaken.
The creature leaned down, staring into her eyes with its fiery gaze. Alicia felt like her skin was melting under its intense scrutiny.
"You smell like us... are you a half-born?" The creature circled her like a museum exhibit, inspecting her closely. "No, the trace is too faint."
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One of the commanders seemed to be relieved from their fear and he raised his axe in the air, “We can beat this monster stick to the pla…”
The man’s head fell to the floor, “Quiet you lesser.”
Alicia's heart raced as she watched in horror. She couldn't comprehend the power of the creature that now stood before them. The being's eyes were fixated on her, and Alicia was terrified. This couldn't be happening; it was just a game, wasn't it? How could it possibly know about her interactions with Carn?
The creature looked back at Alicia and spoke, “Speak lesser, what is your relation to us?”
Alicia knew she couldn’t reveal Carn’s secret and when she thought about it, this was just a game. Dying was no issue. Overcoming her fear Alicia teleported away from the creature and a white light burst fell over the healers who promptly did the same to the rest of the tens of thousands of players.
The creature roared in frustration, its fiery form becoming even more distorted. It launched itself at Alicia, who teleported further and further away. "Running will not save you," it snarled. "I will figure it out eventually."
Alicia ran, firing beams of piercing white light at the monster. The creature dodged with frightening skill as attacks came at it from all directions. Fireballs that burned like miniature suns formed in its hand and it hurled them at Alicia, who blinked out of the way just in time. Undeterred, she launched a barrage of giant saw blades made of light at the monster.
Alicia's heart pounded in her chest as she raced away from the relentless pursuit of the fiery monster. She summoned a wall of shimmering light energy, deflecting some of the blazing fireballs while evading others with lightning-fast reflexes.
Her team launched devastating attacks at the creature, causing the ground to quake with each impact. Explosions erupted wherever the miniature suns hit the earth, sending mushroom clouds billowing into the sky and shockwaves reverberating throughout the battlefield.
As she continued to dodge and weave, the creature's voice rang out in her mind, "Are you related to Fen? No, that can't be it. I would've noticed right away. You must know a new child then. From whom do they hail, though?"
Alicia tried to ignore the creature's words, knowing that revealing Carn's secret could have disastrous consequences. But the monster's pursuit intensified, and it seemed to be closing in on her with frightening speed.
"Hmmm, I can't quite place it. But wait, if that is the case..." Suddenly, the creature came to a halt in mid-air, its fiery form surrounded by a shimmering shield.
The sky erupted with a barrage of attacks as Alicia's team unleashed everything they had on the creature. But the shield held, and the monster's voice echoed through the air, "Listen lessers, do not attack me again. I am quite fond of your planet, so if you don't want my wrath on your home, then stop. I will leave you with this: some of my kind will want to kill the child, and some will be indifferent, but none will help. Consider this a warning."
With a snap of its fingers, the creature vanished, leaving behind only the fading echoes of its warning and a sense of foreboding that lingered in the air.
As the dust settled and the adrenaline faded, the reality of the situation hit hard. Alicia's mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. How could a monster possibly know about Earth? And what did it mean for their planet?
The exhausted commanders and players around her were equally stunned, some slumped on the floor in disbelief.
As Alicia tried to gather her thoughts, one of the players interrupted, his voice tense with urgency, "Commander, the guild leader and vice guild leader died in the monster's assault. What are your orders?"
Alicia felt a pang of grief for the fallen leaders. They hated dying in God’s paradise and felt bad for them, but she quickly composed herself and addressed the player, "We will not chase after the monster any longer. Return to the guild and we will discuss our next steps there."
With a heavy heart, Alicia turned and led her team away from the battlefield. As they made their way back to the guild, she couldn't shake the feeling that their world was about to change forever.
----------------------------------------
Carn savored the taste of the exotic spices from his cooking as he walked back to his newly acquired house. As he settled on the balcony, the gentle breeze brought a sense of calmness. Before he knew it, he was transported to the realm of God's Paradise.
The first thing Carn did was run to the Creationist church handing the priest 100 gold for the Tier-up fee. The priest's eyes gleamed with gratitude, and he led Carn through a hidden door. The staircase spiraled down into darkness, but as they reached the bottom, the priest flung open another door to reveal a magnificent room. Gigantic columns soared upward, their smooth surfaces reflecting the flickering light of countless candles. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees standing tall in the corners, causing them to pulsate with a soft green glow.
At the center of the room, a pool of water, unlike any Carn, had ever seen before shimmered and glimmered, its bottom glistening like a thousand diamonds. The water was so clear and pure that it almost seemed invisible. The ground around the pool was covered in soft grass and delicate flowers, their sweet fragrance wafting through the air. It was a serene and tranquil place, yet its aura was almost otherworldly, as if it belonged in a paradise beyond human comprehension.
Carn couldn't help but marvel at the beauty before him, "This is incredible! What is this place?"
The priest smiled, "This is the pool of purity. Those who bathe in it are cleansed of all impurities and emerge with a renewed spirit. However, it is only effective when the player has reached the top of their tier and an adequate priest is available. I must return to my duties but this man will help with your ritual.”
The priest walked away from the room and a younger priest with the same green outfit greeted him, “Hello sir please undress entirely. Clothes aren't allowed inside the pool. Please don’t be embarrassed. I have performed this ritual thousands of times.”
Carn felt his face turning red as he realized the priest was staring at him expectantly. With a deep breath, he gathered his composure and began to strip off his armor and clothes. Once he was completely naked, he stepped gingerly into the pool, marveling at the shimmering diamonds beneath his feet. As he submerged himself, he expected to feel the pressure building in his chest, but to his surprise, he could breathe just as easily as if he were on land.
The priest's voice echoed through the cavernous room, "You will find that you can breathe underwater, so please fully submerge yourself." With a slight nod of his head, he gestured for Carn to continue, a gentle smile on his face.
As Carn submerged fully into the pool, he felt a rush of cool water embracing his skin, soothing his muscles, and relaxing his mind. The water had a silky texture, and he felt weightless as he moved through it. It was as if the water is imbued with magic, healing and rejuvenating him from within. The sensation was almost otherworldly, and he felt like he could stay in the water forever, basking in its calming embrace.
“I will now begin.”